Alexandria Mom's Calendar of Events

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Come to First Night Alexandria on December 31, the largest family-friendly and alcohol-free New Year’s Eve event in the region! First Night Alexandria is a mega mix of live musical acts and entertainment with 100 performances at 18 indoor venues throughout Old Town Alexandria. Swing, Argentinean tango, Cajun, rock, blues, jazz, and entertainment for kids, are just some of the acts ringing in the New Year. Along with these performances, enjoy a comedy magic show, interactive kids’ activities, the all-ages, brain-teasing Fun Hunt, and the grand finale, where the 6,000 balls will drop on revelers at midnight as laser lights crisscross the sky and club music moves people to dance and sing on the lawn of the George Washington Masonic Memorial!Your ticket for the event is a First Night badge, which gives you access to all entertainment and activities at spots around Old Town. This year’s First Night headquarters is the Durant Arts Center, 1605 Cameron Street, just blocks from King Street Metro Station.

Start your New Year’s Eve fun in the afternoon with the Third Annual First Night Fun Huntbetween 1 and 4:30 p.m. The scavenger-style hunt uses puzzles and clues to take teams to sites around Old Town. Families can also take part in new crafty afternoon activities from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.), which is providing free art projects. Starting at 7 p.m., with your First Night badge and schedule in hand, stroll Alexandria’s charming historic streets among venues, or hop on and off the free King Street Trolley to catch your favorite acts. Check out fabulous entertainment at venues including the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the Little Theatre of Alexandria, historic Christ Church, and the Lyceum. Museums, public buildings, and even retail shops are turned into performance venues to showcase incredible regional and national talent.

A First Night badge, which costs $20, gives you access to all entertainment and activities taking place at locations throughout Old Town. Children 12 and under are free! Go towww.FirstNightAlexandria.org for the complete schedule of shows and activities and to buy admission badges. Explore dining options and plan your visit to Alexandria atwww.VisitAlexandriaVA.com.

All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Monday, January 2, 2012, in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday.

Refuse Collection: Residential refuse and recycling will not be collected on January 1. Collection services will be delayed by one day during the week of January 1. Christmas trees may be set out at the curb for recycling collection on Saturday, January 14, and Saturday, January 21. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Collection site is open on December 31 and closed on January 2.

Parking: On January 1-2, the Alexandria Police Department will suspend enforcement of parking restrictions at metered spaces, as well as time restrictions in residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits.

Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), the Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.), and the Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams High School (3330 King St.) will be closed on January 2.

Libraries:All Alexandria Library branches will be closed on Sunday, January 1, and Monday, January 2.

Recreation Centers: On December 31, all Alexandria recreation centers will be open during their regular business hours. All City of Alexandria recreation centers will be closed on January 1. Chinquapin Recreation Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., all neighborhood recreations centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Lee Center will be closed on January 2.

Schools: The Alexandria City Public Schools are closed through January 1, reopening January 2.

State Offices: The General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, the Circuit Court, and the DMV Office (2681 Mill Rd.) will be closed on January 2.

Transit: DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule on December 31. DASH bus service will not be operating on January 1. DASH bus service is operating on a Sunday schedule on January 2.

Trolley: On December 31, the King Street Trolley will operate on an extended schedule until 1 a.m. to provide transportation for the First Night Alexandria event. The King Street trolley will operate on a normal schedule on January 1-2.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

It’s that time again – Point In Time, that is!On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, teams of City staff and volunteers willstrategically fan out across the city to survey all of the homelessresidents who are living outside. As in years past, we are in need ofvolunteers who are interested in assisting.There are many ways you can help with the count. Of course, volunteers are neededwho are willing to participate in the street outreach portion,to talk with individuals experiencing homelessness and assist withgathering information.

We also welcome donations of gently used sleeping bags, blankets, coats,hats, gloves and shoes. We also appreciate receiving new socks andundergarment items. We are seeking groups who might be interested in makingsandwiches to be given out at the time of the count as well. If you haveother ideas about how you may want to help, please feel free to contact me.If you are interested in volunteering or you would like to make a donation,contact Michelle Albert by phone at703-746-3547or email at michelle.albert@alexandriava.gov

Friday, December 23, 2011

Residents are advised to avoid direct contact with waters in Four Mile Run downstream from the 395 overpass in the City of Alexandria. The petroleum discharge, which originated in Arlington County from an unknown source, is currently being investigated by Arlington County. Alexandria residents are encouraged to eliminate the risk of exposure to the petroleum.

Monday, December 19, 2011

As we are all try to figure out what to give everyone for the holidays and try to save money, here are a few things that I have done with my boys over the year. Most years we have done our “crafts” over the summer and put it away for the holidays. My boys have been so proud of the gifts that they have made themselves and the gifts have lasted a long time.

-When my boys were really little, I would take them on a “collection” walk around the neighborhood. We collected rocks - big rocks, little rocks and pebbles.
Once home we washed the rocks, painted them and even glued things on the rocks – googley eyes, smaller rocks, feathers, and even cut up construction paper. 10+ years later, grandma still proudly displays her rocks on her kitchen window sill and in the garden.

-another year we purchased tiles in various sizes from the hardware store. We put handprints on the tile and gave them to grandparents and aunts and uncles to use as trivets. Again, they are still used today.

-Stepping stones are always nice in the garden and grandmas love their gardens. So one year we made stepping stones from a kit purchased from the craft store. We used our hands and feet to make imprints on the stones, then embellished them with small rocks and decorative pebbles.

-One year we went to the craft store and purchased small cardboard boxes and ornaments. (they were made from recycled materials). We painted them, put glitter on them, and even glued sequins on some of them. We gave the boxes to cousins and other relatives and we used the ornaments as gift tags on wrapped presents.

-When the boys were very young we made our own holiday wrapping paper. We took white tissue paper and used their hands in red or green paint to make handprint paper. We also took holiday cookie cutters, dipped them in paint and used them on the tissue paper as well.

-As the boys got older, we made more elaborate gifts. So one year we made soap. It was sooo easy and my boys loved it! We purchased everything needed from the craft store - molds, soap blocks, scents, colors, and a how to book. I did the melting of the soap and pouring it into the molds. My boys selected the mold, the color and the scent of the soap. It was so much fun and we had soap everywhere. (we were really clean that year!) The boys enjoyed selecting the mold and creating a unique soap for each family member – Cousins, peace symbols and happy faces in funky colors, grandpa doesn’t like spiders so they put a plastic spider in clear soap. Auntie likes turtles, so we made all different scents and shades of green turtles. A few teachers liked flowers so we made various colors of flowers with different scents. To accompany each gift we searched dollar stores, craft stores and other variety stores for different soap dishes. I think each gift cost about $7 and everyone loved it!

-Because we have sooo many girls in the family one year we made them all “magic wands”. We bought small dowel rods from the craft store, painted them and used feathers, gems, and glitter to decorate. The girls were so excited and thought they were truly magical!

-One year we thought we’d try to work with beads, so we made everyone beaded zipper pulls for backpacks, purses, and coats. The beads, pulls and sometimes a decorative charm were purchased from a craft store. The boys enjoyed making patterns with the beads and selecting various ending pieces (charm) for each pull – i.e. fish, phone, flip flop, sun, moon, cat, etc.. Some family members still have the pulls on their winter coats.

-For teacher gifts one year we made note and thank you cards. We purchased card stock from the craft store. My boys each selected 4 things that each teacher liked – coffee, dogs, golf, flowers, cats and so on. Using clip art and word, we chose different fonts and placed the teachers name with a picture of their favorite things on the page. The layout was 4 cards to 1 page of cardstock. We printed the cards out in a variety of colors, cut the page into 4 cards and tied with colorful ribbon. The teachers loved it and the boys were so proud of their computer skills.

-Other years we have gone to the Crate & Barrel outlet and purchased the following for teachers gifts --
-plain coffee mugs (about 1 ea) and put a $5 gift card to Starbucks in
it.
-big popcorn bowls (under $10) and put packages of microwave
popcorn in it.
-clear candy dishes ($1 or so each) in a variety of shapes & sizes, and
filled them with homemade candied nuts or bagged candy.
-holiday dish towels and pot holders all under $2

City of Alexandria Announces Schedule of Services for the Christmas Holiday

Friday, December 23, and Monday, December 26

All City of Alexandria government offices will be closed on Friday, December 23, and Monday, December 26, in observance of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day holidays.

Health Facilities: The Alexandria Health Department (4480 King St.), the Flora Krause Casey Health Center (1200 N. Howard St.) and the Teen Wellness Center (3330 King St.) will be closed on December 23 and 26.

Historic Alexandria: Gadsby’s Tavern and the Apothecary Museum will be open during regular business hours through Saturday, December 24, and will be closed December 25-27. The Black History Museum will be closed December 23-26. The Archaeology Museum will be open December 23-24 and closed December 25-26. Fort Ward will be open December 23 and closed December 24-26. The Lyceum and Friendship Firehouse will be closed December 24-25. The Waterfront Shop will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on December 22-23, and closed December 24-28.

Libraries: All Alexandria Library branches will be closed from Friday through Monday, December 23 – December 26.

Parking: The Alexandria Police Department enforce parking restrictions at metered spaces, as well as time restrictions in residential permit parking districts and other areas with signed parking time limits, from Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26.

Recreation Centers: The Durant Center will be closing early on Thursday, December 22, at 7:30 p.m. The Chinquapin Recreation Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26. All Alexandria neighborhood recreation centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 23, and Monday, December 26. The Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center will be open only on Friday, December 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All City of Alexandria recreation centers, including the Chinquapin Recreation Center, will be closed December 24 and December 25.

Refuse Collection: Residential trash and recycling will be collected on the regularly scheduled days from December 19 to 22. Residential trash and recycling will slide back and be collected one day late from December 27-30, with no collection scheduled on the observed Christmas holiday on Monday, December 26. The Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics Recycling Collection site will be closed on December 24 and 26.

Schools: The Alexandria City Public Schools will be closed from December 23 – January 1, reopening January 2.

State Offices: The General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, the Circuit Court, and the DMV Office, 2681 Mill Road, will be closed on December 23 and 26.

Transit: Alexandria Transit Company's DASH bus service will operate on a Saturday schedule until 7 p.m. on December 24. DASH bus service will not operate on December 25.